Chinese word

勾结

Pronunciation

Pinyingōu jié

Meaning

  • verbcollude

Example

记者发现官员与商人勾结，收受贿赂。jì zhě fā xiàn guān yuán yǔ shāng rén gōu jié shōu shòu huì lù

The reporter discovered that the official had colluded with a merchant and accepted bribes.

Illustration for 勾结 (collude)

More examples

警方查明，这名官员与境外组织秘密勾结，泄露了国家机密。jǐng fāng chá míng zhè míng guān yuán yǔ jìng wài zǔ zhī mì mì gōu jié xiè lòu le guó jiā jī mì

The police found that the official had secretly colluded with a foreign organization and leaked state secrets.

Core concept

A hidden tie that joins people in a shared wrong purpose.

Common phrases

  • 与犯罪分子勾结yǔ fàn zuì fèn zǐ gōu jié

    collude with criminals

  • 与境外势力勾结yǔ jìng wài shì lì gōu jié

    collude with foreign forces

Similar words

串通chuàn tōng: Quietly agree with others and coordinate an improper act.
合谋hé móu: Plan an unlawful act together with others.
共谋gòng móu: Join others in planning and carrying out an unlawful act.

Definition in Chinese

暗中与他人串通，互相配合以谋取不正利益或完成非法行为。àn zhōng yǔ tā rén chuàn tōng hù xiāng pèi hé yǐ móu qǔ bú zhèng lì yì huò wán chéng fēi fǎ xíng wéi

Word origin

勾结 (gōujié, "collude") combines 勾 (gōu, "hook or draw in") with 结 (jié, "tie"), creating the image of people being hooked together into a secret alliance.

Usage tips

  • The word is strongly accusatory, so it does not describe ordinary teamwork or friendly cooperation in everyday Chinese.

Other meanings

  • conspireverb
  • be in cahoots withverb

Word lists with this word